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From Haven to Hell
Welcome to the Haven…
The adventure continues as the Captain Duke and his band of airship pirates return to their hideout to uncover the traitor in their midst. Now that Clara has joined his crew, she must decide whether to trust her new friends before the secrets of her past are used to tear the pilots apart.
The adventure continues as the Captain Duke and his band of airship pirates return to their hideout to uncover the traitor in their midst. Now that Clara has joined his crew, she must decide whether to trust her new friends before the secrets of her past are used to tear the pilots apart.
140 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2015
3 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Diem
4 books52 followersRebecca Diem is a writer, music lover and nerd. She is the author of the indie steampunk series Tales of the Captain Duke, following the adventures of a defiant young aristocrat who saves a band of airship pirates from certain peril and talks her way into joining their crew.
An avid bookworm, Rebecca was honoured to receive a ‘Nose in a Book’ award from her elementary school librarian, and has a dedicated To Be read shelf in her growing library. Somewhere between reading Virginia Woolf and Neil Gaiman, she began to write her own stories and has no plans to stop.
Rebecca now calls Toronto home and is on a never-ending quest to find the perfect café and writing spot.
Facebook: Rebecca Diem
Email: rebeccadiemauthor@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Life: @kthnxbex
Bookstagram: @rebeccadiem
An avid bookworm, Rebecca was honoured to receive a ‘Nose in a Book’ award from her elementary school librarian, and has a dedicated To Be read shelf in her growing library. Somewhere between reading Virginia Woolf and Neil Gaiman, she began to write her own stories and has no plans to stop.
Rebecca now calls Toronto home and is on a never-ending quest to find the perfect café and writing spot.
Facebook: Rebecca Diem
Email: rebeccadiemauthor@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram/Life: @kthnxbex
Bookstagram: @rebeccadiem
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 29, 2018
* I received this free from the author in exchange for an honest review *
This one is the sequel to the first novella and by this point we're seeing Clara as a part of the crew. I don't want to spoil much about this story, but of course it involves air ships, pirates and even betrayal. We follow Clara and Captain Duke, along with the rest of the crew, as they do their best to uncover a new way to pirate, and find their way home to the Haven.
Alongside Clara, we got a lot of development on Cat and Mouse in this book and I really enjoyed seeing more of them because a young brother and sister who are some of the best pilots out there is a pretty great concept in my eyes :D
3*s from me.
This one is the sequel to the first novella and by this point we're seeing Clara as a part of the crew. I don't want to spoil much about this story, but of course it involves air ships, pirates and even betrayal. We follow Clara and Captain Duke, along with the rest of the crew, as they do their best to uncover a new way to pirate, and find their way home to the Haven.
Alongside Clara, we got a lot of development on Cat and Mouse in this book and I really enjoyed seeing more of them because a young brother and sister who are some of the best pilots out there is a pretty great concept in my eyes :D
3*s from me.
March 24, 2019
Wonderfully written and a delightful read, I am now fully ensconced in The Captain Duke's world and I can't wait to see what comes next. After the first volume in the series, The Runaway Debutante, I was left impressed with Diem's writing and world-building, but I did feel a little bit was lacking in the actual character building and motivations for their deeds and I am glad to say that Diem confronted that issue head-on in this volume and really allowed her wonderful characters to get fleshed out and to let us, her readers, understand why they're doing the things they do. I don't want to spoil anything or give any details of the story, but I'm really glad that I picked up this series and I'm anxious to find out what happens next.
July 14, 2015
From Haven to Hell, book #2 in The Tales of the Captain Duke series, is a great read, definitely a page turner! Love how the characters evolve more in this book. Excited for Book #3 A Gentleman and a Scholar!
July 29, 2015
Loved diving further into the story of Clara and the Captain Duke. Finally all the chemistry between them becomes something real... And we get more glimpses into the creative historical backdrop behind the main storyline. Looking forward to the rest of this series! From Haven to Hell Rebecca Diem
July 30, 2015
I loved this book even more than the first. Characters develop with more complexity, as the author weaves together betrayal, insecurities, and different kinds of love. Plus, things get violent - the title is apt! I would recommend this book to young adults and older adults alike; it's an easy read that sucks you in. Can't wait for the next one!
August 11, 2019
https://openbooksociety.com/article/f...
From Haven to Hell
Tales of the Captain Duke, Book #2
By Rebecca Diem
ISBN: 9780993887420
Author’s Website: rebeccadiem(.)com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Summary:
Welcome to the Haven…
The adventure continues as the Captain Duke and his band of airship pirates return to their hideout to uncover the traitor in their midst. Now that Clara has joined his crew, she must decide whether to trust her new friends before the secrets of her past are used to tear the pilots apart. (Goodreads)
Review:
I have read From Haven to Hell for a second time in anticipation of having the author attend our book club meeting to discuss her series, Tales of the Captain Duke. I must say that reading the series (and this book in particular) for a second time has really made me appreciate Diem’s storytelling abilities even more.
From Haven to Hell carries on from where book one, The Stowaway Debutante, left off. Clara is now living life as a piratess (an heiress piratess to be exact) and loving it. There is trouble brewing when “a simple raid had turned into a perilous standoff between the Captain Duke’s pilots and a full complement of Tradist soldiers.” Now there seems to be a traitor amongst the crew. Captain Duke must ferret out the traitor and deal with them as soon as possible, in the hopes of maintaining some control over his crew.
The tale of this betrayal and what subsequently transpires is told with such aplomb that this reader was totally engrossed in the story. So much so that when the end came, I carried right on with the third book (A Gentleman and a Scholar) in the series! The level of violence in this book was higher than in book one, but that is to be expected when dealing with betrayal among pirates.
Ms. Diem provides the reader with more depth to the characters, though I must say that Captain Duke still remains a bit of a conundrum. We were provided with a bit more history, but I can tell there is more to this pirate than meets the eye. Can’t wait to learn more about him… or other crew members for that matter.
Cat and Mouse were again, a delight in this tale. Their maturity as well as their childlike behaviour provided for interesting events. We also got to see a different side of Ness.
Given that I want to leave other readers the joy of discovering the story within the pages of From Haven to Hell, I shall finish off by saying…bravo Rebecca Diem. I cannot wait to read more of this series that you so clearly love to write about. Thank you!
From Haven to Hell
Tales of the Captain Duke, Book #2
By Rebecca Diem
ISBN: 9780993887420
Author’s Website: rebeccadiem(.)com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Summary:
Welcome to the Haven…
The adventure continues as the Captain Duke and his band of airship pirates return to their hideout to uncover the traitor in their midst. Now that Clara has joined his crew, she must decide whether to trust her new friends before the secrets of her past are used to tear the pilots apart. (Goodreads)
Review:
I have read From Haven to Hell for a second time in anticipation of having the author attend our book club meeting to discuss her series, Tales of the Captain Duke. I must say that reading the series (and this book in particular) for a second time has really made me appreciate Diem’s storytelling abilities even more.
From Haven to Hell carries on from where book one, The Stowaway Debutante, left off. Clara is now living life as a piratess (an heiress piratess to be exact) and loving it. There is trouble brewing when “a simple raid had turned into a perilous standoff between the Captain Duke’s pilots and a full complement of Tradist soldiers.” Now there seems to be a traitor amongst the crew. Captain Duke must ferret out the traitor and deal with them as soon as possible, in the hopes of maintaining some control over his crew.
The tale of this betrayal and what subsequently transpires is told with such aplomb that this reader was totally engrossed in the story. So much so that when the end came, I carried right on with the third book (A Gentleman and a Scholar) in the series! The level of violence in this book was higher than in book one, but that is to be expected when dealing with betrayal among pirates.
Ms. Diem provides the reader with more depth to the characters, though I must say that Captain Duke still remains a bit of a conundrum. We were provided with a bit more history, but I can tell there is more to this pirate than meets the eye. Can’t wait to learn more about him… or other crew members for that matter.
Cat and Mouse were again, a delight in this tale. Their maturity as well as their childlike behaviour provided for interesting events. We also got to see a different side of Ness.
Given that I want to leave other readers the joy of discovering the story within the pages of From Haven to Hell, I shall finish off by saying…bravo Rebecca Diem. I cannot wait to read more of this series that you so clearly love to write about. Thank you!
August 9, 2018
An intriguing follow-up to the first book, which takes some time to flesh out character backstory and motive in the midst of its mystery plot. It felt very much like the exhale to Stowaway Debutante's inhale: while the first book was all action all the time, Haven to Hell was slower in pace, taking scenes to just explore character relations and origins. I particularly enjoyed time spent with Trick, the character who, to me, has the most depth and nuance.
I wish the antagonist had more going for him--we're dead sure of his treachery pretty much from page one, despite the fact that he's been a trusted member of the crew for years. I'd've liked to see more hesitancy on the main crew's part before painting him as a rogue. Additionally, the romance between Clara and Captain Duke is just not doing it for me yet. They seem to be getting angry with each other more often than sharing tender, trust-building moments. (Then again, this book is VERY short, and I'm the kind of person who only invests in a romance that takes 80,000 words before you even get a kiss out of 'em. Might just not be my cup of tea.)
Otherwise, it's quite a pleasure to watch Clara settle into her new home and family, and to see the motive behind the crew's pirating! The tone was lighthearted and heartfelt, the stakes were appropriately high at all points, and I'm looking forward to seeing how we recover from that final blow...!
I wish the antagonist had more going for him--we're dead sure of his treachery pretty much from page one, despite the fact that he's been a trusted member of the crew for years. I'd've liked to see more hesitancy on the main crew's part before painting him as a rogue. Additionally, the romance between Clara and Captain Duke is just not doing it for me yet. They seem to be getting angry with each other more often than sharing tender, trust-building moments. (Then again, this book is VERY short, and I'm the kind of person who only invests in a romance that takes 80,000 words before you even get a kiss out of 'em. Might just not be my cup of tea.)
Otherwise, it's quite a pleasure to watch Clara settle into her new home and family, and to see the motive behind the crew's pirating! The tone was lighthearted and heartfelt, the stakes were appropriately high at all points, and I'm looking forward to seeing how we recover from that final blow...!
April 10, 2018
The second book in the series, wishing it was the first so that I'm that further away from the end.
Once again, Rebecca Diem wrote a book that I could not put down. The interesting scenarios that she puts not only the main characters in, but the situations that she puts the side characters in as well kept me hooked through and through! And the world that she is creating makes me want to know more of what is going on.
Speaking of side characters, her attention to the amount of detail and history that she puts into every one makes me hope that she releases stories of each one, or even publish a collection. The line that separates main character from side gets blurry and you start to fall for each one as much as the last.
Once again, Rebecca Diem wrote a book that I could not put down. The interesting scenarios that she puts not only the main characters in, but the situations that she puts the side characters in as well kept me hooked through and through! And the world that she is creating makes me want to know more of what is going on.
Speaking of side characters, her attention to the amount of detail and history that she puts into every one makes me hope that she releases stories of each one, or even publish a collection. The line that separates main character from side gets blurry and you start to fall for each one as much as the last.
May 14, 2023
I'm rounding up to three stars. This was roughly the same as the first book: decent but not much depth. We do get to know a little more about the two protagonists, but it doesn't really flesh it out that much. It's a decent steampunk adventure and I might read the other two books at some point, but I just can't get invested enough in the story right now to continue.
May 16, 2017
After reading, and thoroughly enjoying, the first book of this series, I had high expectations for this one. I was not disappointed. This sequel was just as entertaining as the first. Looking forward to reading the third book.
August 13, 2019
Again I am amazed and happily surprised by how much adventure and drama has been fit into such a small book. Great book for when you only have 10-15mins to read at a time (like when waiting for a bus that may show up haha)
September 9, 2019
ok wow i really love these books 🥰 it was so nice learning more backstory to these characters!! i do wish it was longer though. i felt the timeline was a bit confusing and it felt rushed at times. but it was still sooo good!!
December 31, 2024
Again I am amazed and happily surprised by how much adventure and drama has been fit into such a small book. Great book for when you only have 10-15mins to read at a time (like when waiting for a bus that may show up haha)
May 9, 2025
Secrets told, mysteries solved, and chaos ensued! This was an excellent second part to the series. Landed instead of in the air, so it had a different feel to it, but the same great characters. Loving this!!
May 31, 2017
This I should such a fun little series! Much like the first, I read it in a day.
August 9, 2019
https://openbooksociety.com/article/f...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
I have read From Haven to Hell for a second time in anticipation of having the author attend our book club meeting to discuss her series, Tales of the Captain Duke. I must say that reading the series (and this book in particular) for a second time has really made me appreciate Diem’s storytelling abilities even more.
From Haven to Hell carries on from where book one, The Stowaway Debutante, left off. Clara is now living life as a piratess (an heiress piratess to be exact) and loving it. There is trouble brewing when “a simple raid had turned into a perilous standoff between the Captain Duke’s pilots and a full complement of Tradist soldiers.” Now there seems to be a traitor amongst the crew. Captain Duke must ferret out the traitor and deal with them as soon as possible, in the hopes of maintaining some control over his crew.
The tale of this betrayal and what subsequently transpires is told with such aplomb that this reader was totally engrossed in the story. So much so that when the end came, I carried right on with the third book (A Gentleman and a Scholar) in the series! The level of violence in this book was higher than in book one, but that is to be expected when dealing with betrayal among pirates.
Ms. Diem provides the reader with more depth to the characters, though I must say that Captain Duke still remains a bit of a conundrum. We were provided with a bit more history, but I can tell there is more to this pirate than meets the eye. Can’t wait to learn more about him… or other crew members for that matter.
Cat and Mouse were again, a delight in this tale. Their maturity as well as their childlike behaviour provided for interesting events. We also got to see a different side of Ness.
Given that I want to leave other readers the joy of discovering the story within the pages of From Haven to Hell, I shall finish off by saying…bravo Rebecca Diem. I cannot wait to read more of this series that you so clearly love to write about. Thank you!
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
I have read From Haven to Hell for a second time in anticipation of having the author attend our book club meeting to discuss her series, Tales of the Captain Duke. I must say that reading the series (and this book in particular) for a second time has really made me appreciate Diem’s storytelling abilities even more.
From Haven to Hell carries on from where book one, The Stowaway Debutante, left off. Clara is now living life as a piratess (an heiress piratess to be exact) and loving it. There is trouble brewing when “a simple raid had turned into a perilous standoff between the Captain Duke’s pilots and a full complement of Tradist soldiers.” Now there seems to be a traitor amongst the crew. Captain Duke must ferret out the traitor and deal with them as soon as possible, in the hopes of maintaining some control over his crew.
The tale of this betrayal and what subsequently transpires is told with such aplomb that this reader was totally engrossed in the story. So much so that when the end came, I carried right on with the third book (A Gentleman and a Scholar) in the series! The level of violence in this book was higher than in book one, but that is to be expected when dealing with betrayal among pirates.
Ms. Diem provides the reader with more depth to the characters, though I must say that Captain Duke still remains a bit of a conundrum. We were provided with a bit more history, but I can tell there is more to this pirate than meets the eye. Can’t wait to learn more about him… or other crew members for that matter.
Cat and Mouse were again, a delight in this tale. Their maturity as well as their childlike behaviour provided for interesting events. We also got to see a different side of Ness.
Given that I want to leave other readers the joy of discovering the story within the pages of From Haven to Hell, I shall finish off by saying…bravo Rebecca Diem. I cannot wait to read more of this series that you so clearly love to write about. Thank you!
November 25, 2016
Clara (aka - Rebecca Diem) - debutante - pirate - wise beyond her years, pulls you into her world high above the skies of Victorian London. An emotional roller-coaster ride of quick decisions, battles, friendships and enemies. Never certain who do you trust and the unobvious outcome always a heart beating, breathless surprise. Sadly so true is this book ...my heart weeps for fallen friends. Fall in love again. Align your heart with one of the characters in this book and be prepared...things aren't always as they appear. Captain Duke is a man of mystery...and remains so throughtout the series. Though hints of his past are whispered to the reader. Captivating - delightful - well written. For those individuals who have considered, pondered over and hesitated to glimpse into the Steampunk world...This book is a must read. From the perspective of an individual who has glanced at the steampunk genre from a safe distance...we are now part of the world and love it.
...Drifting in my airship in the skies high above Victorian London
...Drifting in my airship in the skies high above Victorian London
April 13, 2025
I’m taking this as one, really, since I read them in sequence, and they didn’t take long. So this review appears on all four books.
The idea of a well-to-do young woman of a Regency era with advanced technology, where the heroine escapes from an arranged marriage by hiding on a trading airship to be discovered by pirates… it’s too good to miss.
The writing is excellent, the characters beautiful and varied (although some are fairly predictable), and the airship tech well described. It’s a highly enjoyable story and I wish there was more, although it does conclude with an element of finality.
I don’t really understand why the author brought it out as separate titles (especially with the first chapter of the next at the end of the previous) since they take less than an hour to read, and I felt a single novel might have been more enjoyable. Maybe it was just what we were being advised at that time. Don’t let that stop you adding them to your collection, but be aware of the price you’re paying for them. I could easily have read all four in one sitting.
The idea of a well-to-do young woman of a Regency era with advanced technology, where the heroine escapes from an arranged marriage by hiding on a trading airship to be discovered by pirates… it’s too good to miss.
The writing is excellent, the characters beautiful and varied (although some are fairly predictable), and the airship tech well described. It’s a highly enjoyable story and I wish there was more, although it does conclude with an element of finality.
I don’t really understand why the author brought it out as separate titles (especially with the first chapter of the next at the end of the previous) since they take less than an hour to read, and I felt a single novel might have been more enjoyable. Maybe it was just what we were being advised at that time. Don’t let that stop you adding them to your collection, but be aware of the price you’re paying for them. I could easily have read all four in one sitting.
January 5, 2017
Loved this book. Fast paced and short, this book makes for an amazing quick read. This series comes across to me like a TV show, each book an episode. Definitely high fantasy, a world and characters you'll fall in love with. You might want to section off a day for this book, I definitely did, 'cause you wont want to put it down.
August 19, 2016
Another great read as the saga continues for Captain Duke and Clara. Thank goodness I only have to wait a month to pick up the tales again.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews